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Tripoli, April 5
There is a tense calm in Zuara, Rigdaleen and Al-Jmail as residents await the outcome of negotiations between representatives . . .[restrict]of the towns and the authorities.
Fighting stopped late yesterday after the government demanded an immediate ceasefire and told the Commander-in-Chief, Major General Yusuf Mangoush, to use force, if necessary, to stop the clashes and take control of the situation.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has expressed “deep concern” over the violence around the towns of Zuara, Al-Jmail and Regdaleen and the reports of casualties.
Welcoming the efforts of the Libyan authorities in conjunction with local leaders to broker a ceasefire and restore calm and order, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Ian Martin appealed to all sides to sort out their differences peacefully: “The Libyan people sacrificed their lives to secure their freedom for a new, democratic Libya for all its citizens. I call on all parties to recall this sacrifice and resolve their differences without resort to the use of force.”
UNSMIL said that clashes around Zuara, coming on the heels of fighting in the south underlined the need for the authorities to accelerate their efforts in building strong state security institutions, including the integration of revolutionary fighters and the collection of heavy weapons.
It added that they also highlighted the deep-rooted legacy of four decades of autocratic rule and the need for all components of Libyan society to work towards reconciliation.
In an interview with Al Arabiya TV yesterday, NTC Chairman Abdul Jalil Mustafa said that force would in future be brought to bear in any areas in the country where clashes occur. [/restrict]
